We all thought that the New York Islanders were going to trade away one of their first-round picks in 2018. Needing a top-four defender and a goalie it seemed clear they’d try to upgrade at the NHL Entry Draft using one of their high-value assets.
Lou Lamoriello and the Islanders probably thought the same thing. Until it became clear that the second best goal scorer in the draft after Filip Zadina was going to be available with the eleventh overall pick. The draft strategy changed right there and then for the Isles.
They took Oliver Wahlstrom at eleventh overall in the draft.